“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well.” —Matthew 6:33

There was recently an article in New York Times about a woman who loved movies when she was young. However, when she became a nun, she thought she would have to leave behind that love to follow her new calling. But as time passed and she fulfilled her duties in the Church and the community, she began to view media from a new perspective. She now attends many film festivals and writes about movies, merging her love for God and good stories.

The kingdom Jesus talked about is a place where our deepest desires find an outlet, but only after we’ve submitted ourselves to a higher purpose, waiting for the “ripe” time for their fulfilment. This can be a trying time—our main desires go on the back burner and the daily grind is all we can see.

But in this season, something can happen inside of us. If we work through the disappointment, we can awaken a deeper peace than we would’ve had if we had gotten what we wanted right away. This builds endurance and humility in our inner person, so when a fulfilment of desire comes, we’re ready to serve with our gifts. This is the rhythm of the kingdom: wait for it . . . wait for it . . . now go for it!

Consider This:

What motivates you the most?

When was the last time you were able to help people while using your talents or gifts?

Take Action:

Journal your answers to these two questions: What people would you most like to help? What talents or gifts would you like to use to help them?